From the deserts of California to the forests of Belgium, these iconic music festivals showcase the power of sound to bridge cultures, celebrate creativity, and build unforgettable global communities.
Music has the unique power to transcend language, geography, and culture. Across the globe, people gather to celebrate this universal art form through music festivals—vibrant events that bring together artists and audiences. From the deserts of California to the forests of Belgium, music festivals provide a space for cultural exchange, artistic innovation, and unforgettable communal experiences.
Music festivals have also become important platforms for promoting sustainability, given their substantial carbon footprints, and are thus becoming drivers of positive change. “Many festivals now prioritize social and environmental causes, with events like Glastonbury and Coachella incorporating sustainability initiatives and charitable partnerships into their programming,” according to a 2025 article in Number Analytics.
This article explores nine famous music festivals in the world, each representing a different country and offering a glimpse into the rich musical traditions and evolving global music scene:
Glastonbury is one of the world’s most iconic and enduring music festivals. First held in 1970, it was inspired by the ethos of the 1960s counterculture and the vision of co-founders Michael and Jean Eavis. The first festival featured acts like Marc Bolan’s Tyrannosaurus Rex and cost just £1 to attend, with free milk from the farm included. “The first festival at Worthy Farm was called the Pilton Pop, Folk and Blues Festival and took place in late Summer 1970, opening the day after Jimi Hendrix died. It was attended by 1,500 people,” according to V&A, which got “guardianship of the Glastonbury Festival Archive” in 2014. It was renamed the Glastonbury Fayre in 1971.
Over the decades, Glastonbury has evolved into a colossal event, drawing more than 200,000 attendees in 2019. Beyond its musical diversity, Glastonbury is known for its distinctive atmosphere—a blend of bohemian spirit, political activism, and environmental consciousness. For instance, Glastonbury has taken several steps to reduce its long-term emissions through initiatives like ensuring large-scale tree planting.
With legendary performances from artists like David Bowie, Beyoncé, and Radiohead, Glastonbury has cemented its reputation as a rite of passage for music lovers globally. People can attend this annual festival in the village of Pilton, Somerset, England, in June.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, commonly referred to as Coachella, is the premier music festival in the United States and a trendsetter in global pop culture. Coachella has been around since 1999 and is known for its star-studded lineup, cutting-edge fashion, and sprawling desert setting. Over the years, Coachella has become synonymous with the modern music festival experience in the U.S., with many avant-garde musical genres and explosive performances.
Held over two weekends in April each year, the festival features identical lineups, showcasing both established headliners and rising indie stars. It has hosted iconic performances from Prince, Daft Punk, Beyoncé, and Kendrick Lamar. Coachella also features large-scale art installations, offering a multi-sensory experience that blends music, fashion, and visual art, and attracts fans and influencers from around the world. It draws fans of pop, hip-hop, electric funk, rock, and other expressive music genres.
Coachella, like many music festivals, is credited with creating community and has provided an “incredible amount of financial stimulation to the local economy,” according to a 2022 article in the Business Review at Berkley. It has also taken several steps to reduce its environmental impact by offering shuttles and prizes to carpoolers.
Tomorrowland is the epitome of the global Electronic Dance Music (EDM) phenomenon. First held in 2005, this festival has grown into a fantastical celebration of electronic music, featuring elaborate stage designs, pyrotechnics, and a lineup of the world’s top DJs, including Armin van Buuren, Martin Garrix, and David Guetta. The festival, which began with 9,000 attendees in 2005, “attracts over 400,000 people worldwide,” states a 2023 BRG Radio article.
Set in the small town of Boom, Belgium, it has stages that resemble castles, enchanted forests, and outer space scenes. Tickets sell out within minutes, and attendees come from more than 200 countries. Tomorrowland also launches satellite events and a digital edition, extending its reach far beyond Belgium.
In 2025, more than 600 dance acts spanning the genre’s sound spectrum took place from July 18 to 20 and July 25 to 27, with many returning and new performers on the billboard. There will also be a version of Tomorrowland in Brazil from October 10 to 12, with the theme revolving around a story called “LIFE,” which is set in the “mythical realm of Silvyra,” states the Tomorrowland Brasil website.
In 2024, Tomorrowland partnered with a company to tackle mental health issues among younger people facing “loneliness,” using the festival platform to raise awareness about this critical matter.
Japan’s most celebrated music festival, Fuji Rock, debuted in 1997 and quickly gained a reputation for combining world-class music with breathtaking backdrops of the Naeba Ski Resort in the Niigata Prefecture. Fuji Rock is notable for its clean and eco-friendly ethos, as well as its excellent organization. The festival regularly features an international lineup, including legends such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beck, and The Cure, alongside Japan’s top acts and artists. With stages set amid lush forests and mountain streams iconic to Japan, Fuji Rock offers a serene and immersive musical experience in July.
Since its inception, the festival has been promoting “coexistence with nature.” It has been providing a “stage [for] presentations by NGOs involved in the environment, peace, and human rights, and the establishment of an NGO village,” according to the festival website. It also helps protect the surrounding forests.
Launched in 1985, Rock in Rio was born out of a dream to bring massive international acts to Brazil. The inaugural event was groundbreaking, featuring Queen, AC/DC, and Iron Maiden, and drawing nearly 1.4 million people. Its success helped put Brazil on the map as a major destination for live music.
Since then, Rock in Rio has grown into a global brand, with editions in several cities and the festival taking place biennially in either September or October. Each event features an eclectic lineup spanning multiple genres, showcasing Brazil’s love for both international and local music. Its blend of world-class performances and Latin American flair makes it one of the most spirited festivals in the world.
The festival has also made efforts to create a positive social and environmental impact by planting trees in the Amazon and establishing schools. “Rock in Rio has social topics on its agenda and addresses these items because the importance of Rock in Rio in Brazil is fundamental. We use [our platform] to teach young people the fundamental things we need to do to transform as a society,” said Roberto Medina, the founder of Rock in Rio, to IQ magazine in 2024.
One of the most prestigious jazz festivals globally, the Montreux Jazz Festival was founded in 1967 by Claude Nobs. Initially dedicated solely to jazz, the festival has since broadened its scope to include other genres while maintaining a focus on improvisational musical excellence. Nearly 250,000 people attend this festival yearly.
Held in a pristine lakeside landscape in the village of Montreux, Switzerland, the Montreux Jazz Festival has hosted musical legends such as Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, and Prince, who have all performed beside the shimmering shores of Lake Geneva. It’s not only about concerts—the festival also includes jam sessions, blues and soul workshops, and intimate performances for fans of jazz, pop, and rock to experience. The festival usually takes place in July every year.
The festival organizers have been working with the city and government to make the festival more sustainable and “encouraged visitors to come by train or electric bus. … [In 2022] we saw a 50 percent increase in the number of people… [who] didn’t arrive by car,” said CEO Mathieu Jaton, according to a 2023 article by the publication, Access All Areas.
Since its inception in 2001, Splendour in the Grass has become Australia’s most prominent music festival. Originally a one-day event, it expanded into a three-day experience in 2009, showcasing both local Australian talent and big-name international musicians and artists. Held in the coastal region of Byron Bay, New South Wales, Splendour in the Grass offers more than just music—its program includes art installations, workshops, comedy, and discussion panels.
The festival fosters a leisurely, community-driven vibe. It has hosted performances from artists like Lorde, Tame Impala, and Kendrick Lamar, becoming a key event on the Southern Hemisphere’s music calendar.
In 2019, it won the NSW Government Green Globe Awards, which recognize sustainability leaders in New South Wales, according to the festival website, and has taken several steps to encourage recycling and reduce the festival’s carbon emissions.
Sziget Festival is one of Europe’s largest and most diverse music festivals. Held every August in northern Budapest, Hungary, on the island of Óbudai-sziget (“Old Buda Island”), this mesmerizing destination on the Danube River was launched in 1993 following the fall of the Soviet Union. Over the years, the festival’s original mission as a cultural statement of freedom and artistic expression continues to exemplify its liberal agenda, with rock, pop, hip-hop, EDM, and other musical genres forming part of the festival, which makes the site the Island of Freedom.
Hundreds of thousands of attendees are drawn to the festive and dynamic atmosphere each year. The Sziget Festival is also renowned for its ethos of equality and freedom, presenting a diverse array of music, circus acts, theater, art installations, and workshops. It is a symbol of Budapest’s transformation into a vibrant cultural hub, with lineups that include global stars alongside regional talent.
The festival also advances human rights and freedom of expression. “We believe that everyone’s individual freedoms should be respected and everyone should have the right to the freedom of thought and lifestyle, sexual orientation, religion, speech, and [the] right to equal knowledge and learning. We stand out for these values every day,” states the festival website.
The Sunburn Festival in India is Asia’s biggest electronic music festival. It has become synonymous with India’s booming dance music scene and was launched in 2007 in Goa, a region known for its trance parties. Although the Sunburn Festival has relocated from its original city to various locations in India, the festival continues to combine world-class DJ performances with yoga sessions and immersive stage productions.
The festival, which takes place in December, has played a significant role in popularizing EDM in India, featuring artists like Afrojack, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and DJ Snake. Its growth has paralleled the rise of music tourism in the country, attracting young audiences from across India and abroad. Partygoers, music lovers, curious tourists, and everyone in between will find Sunburn Festival’s exhilarating performances and Indian culture a contemplative exploration into the beauty of music.
Despite differences in geography, culture, and musical preferences, all these festivals share a common goal: to unite people through music. Whether it’s the pulsing beats of Tomorrowland, the indie charm of Splendour in the Grass, or the historical richness of Montreux Jazz Festival, these events represent the best of what music can offer—connection, creativity, and celebration.
Music festivals are more than concerts; they are cultural landmarks. They reflect societal trends, push artistic boundaries, and often set the stage for musical history. In a world that can sometimes feel divided, music festivals remind us that joy, rhythm, and harmony can unite us, regardless of our origins.
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